A Parma, Ohio father who called 911 to report beating his five-year-old son to death with a baseball bat after hearing voices could face the death penalty.
A Cuyahoga County Grand Jury on Tuesday indicted 32-year-old Matthew Ponomarenko on a new aggravated murder charge that could lead to the death penalty if he is convicted.
Related: GRAPHIC: ‘I Just Killed My Son After Hearing Voices,’ Ohio Dad Tells 911 Dispatcher
Ponomarenko was previously indicted on charges of aggravated murder and child endangering on April 9. Those charges did not include a death penalty specification. A judge in that case ordered he undergo a psychiatric examination to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
Jax Ponomarenko was found dead in March after Parma police were called out to a home in the 4700 block of Russell Avenue.
Matthew Ponomarenko remains in jail on a $5 million bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.
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